These Packers Are On Notice…

Every year, it becomes clear who the Green Bay Packers want to replace after the NFL Draft by looking at their draft class. You know, like Erik Walden last year. That didn’t go quite according to plan, but you get the idea.

I don’t think Harris is in trouble. The Packers likely keep 4 HBs and 1 FB- Lacy, Franklin, Harris, Green and Kuhn. Even if the Packers keep 3 HBs, he is still safe. As far as who starts, lets see these guys on the field first.

Many believe that Tretter’s best position is at center. So, EDS could be out after one year if Tretter develops.

Still surprised about no TE’s being drafted. Yes, the Packers might actually offer Finley another contract. Wow.

A-Rodge wins by hopefully having a running game that can help carry the load.

What’s with everyone now all the sudden thinking this is a run first offense? The Green Bay brass just made Rodgers the highest paid player in NFL history, they didn’t do that so McCarthy could go back to the “balanced attack” splitting the offense 50/50 with run and pass.

Lacy and Franklin were brought in to break the deep cover 2 defense and finally give the Pack a solid run game to combat defensive coordinators, nothing more. DuJuan Harris strikes about as much fear into DC’s as John Kuhn does — which would be zero. With Lacy and Franklin now in the mix defenses can’t afford to play their safeties 60 yards deep on Rodgers. Adding Lacy and Franklin opens up the passing game immensely. I wouldn’t expect to see Lacy, Franklin or Harris get more than 12-15 touches per/game — I see this being a committee backfield with Lacy/Harris as the early down backs and Franklin as the 3rd down guy. Either way this all opens up the pass and drafting solid RB’s who can run between the tackles and move the line of scrimmage was the only was to solve the deep cover 2. I don’t see this going to a run first offense, Rodgers should be throwing at least 70% of the time.

No one, including Iltarion (dunno what you have against the being, but please give it a rest) is stating or even importing they will be a run-first team, of course not when you have the greatest football player in the known universe (and maybe history of said universe) as your QB. They certainly won’t heave it 70% of the time, as they didn’t last year with a (potentially) worse running game.

No, all anyone is saying is that the Pack may finally have found a 3-down (“workhorse”) back, someone who may be able to convert 3rd-and-shorts and goaline carries and close out games grinding the clock. This is very possibly true as Lacy is also a great pass catcher and YACer, and a decent blocker who could become very good at it, thus he can be on the field and contribute on any down of any distance. This likely relegates the rest of the crew to the change-of-pace and special packages role (like using Green i out of shotgun, which he runs better in anyway).

Starks is gone.
I could see Green leaving too — the ACL is a tough injury for a RB: tendonitis/arthritis; he’ll never be the same.
Grant nowhere in sight.
I could see Benson coming back, and being used til he breaks — he’d be cheap.
Harris is short but hefty — and a good change of pace that stays hidden behind the oLine.
Let’s face it: McCarthy runs complicated shit, and only Benson and Harris are really going to know it. Lacy and Franklin may pick it up over the course of the season.

I could see Worthy getting cut before Wilson. Worthy didn’t show much before the injury, and he sure won’t show anything this year. And the year following an ACL is a waste for most players — don’t see the point in holding on to him. Still question why he lost so much weight during the course of the season.

Newhouse may be gone, instead of a backup. Don’t know why he gives up on plays after 1.5 seconds. He certainly looks timid and afraid of contact at times.

EDS not going anywhere until replacement on deck, although he’s really good for nothing but double-teams. Replacement not in sight. VanRoten? newguy? not this year…

Stuck with McM and MD at safety — MD goes to the bench if tackling doesn’t improve.

Finley — maybe play improves for contract year; Packers won’t re-sign either way though.
DJ Williams — total goober; teddy-bear-on-weights pictures? cut him. he’s worthless.
Ryan — heir-apparent to Crabtree: Special teams, but not special at anything else.
Bostick — hope he comes on in a big way.
Quarless — wouldn’t be surprised if he gets cut, the year after ACL will be pretty tentative
Mulligan — may be the blocker that Crabtree was not

The biggest red flags I see for the team are McCarthy and Capers. Their shit is too complicated. With two guys eating up the cap, the rest are draftees — young guys, low Wonderlic guys, cheap guys, no experience guys. The coaches have to dump-it-down to make it work and to get productivity out of these guys.

Awful lot of players getting cut by your accounts.
Packers add intelligent players for a reason, I doubt there are many low Wonderlic scores on the team, save YOTTOMan. You don’t know how Quarless will respond, no one does or can (except, perhaps the great time traveller Phillip J. Fry) not even him; he’ll likely be eased back in, hence one reason for the acquisition of Mulligan. I think the Pack will be somewhat lenient in evaluating his performance this season since he is recovering from such a magnitudinous injury.

Agree with you on Finley; as for Williams, he certainly is an odd duck, not sure about his work ethic or skill, possibly a make-or-break year for him.

I don’t think Ced will be back, not after draftin 2 RBs with the 1st 4 picks, unless he pre-empts Green or the Pack keep 6 backfield assistants for A-Rodg.